I sure do remember you both. I was in the
Arts class and switched to Science after the results came out.
Arlene passed away quite a few years ago - it was a very sad
passing.

Regards, Geok Eng

Goh Geok Eng
wrote (03 February 2006, 0904 hours):

Dear Boh Pin,

Thank you for taking the trouble to write
these lines. I will convey your condolences to Gwek's daughter
though I do not know her myself. The Straits Times obituary page
today has an announcement about Gwek's passing.

Tommy Koh's wife is Poh Siew Aing and she was
also in out MGS class. So many of us studied in ACS!

Geok Eng

Yap Boh Pin
wrote (02 February 2006, 1132 hours)

Dear Geok Eng,
I know you do not know me through the Pre-U years in ACS as I
had left for the UK after my 'O' levels in 1959. Therefore, I
did not have the opportunities to mix with girls from MGS at the
Pre-U classes in ACS.

However, I had the privilege of knowing Soh
Gwek Neo when we were doing private tuition in 'A' Maths under
Mr Chee Keng Lim. My cousins, Yap Boh Ghee and Yap Boh Ann and
myself took private tuition at the present premises of Chinese
Chamber of Commerce in Hill Street. During that time, we were
doing the Cambridge 'O' level exams and there was one other girl
who was also taking private tuition together with Soh Gwek Neo.
I believe she is now the wife of Prof Tommy Koh (sorry, her name
slipped my mind, I believe her surname is Ms Lim).

Please therefore send our deepest condolences
to her family in Paris. It's always sad to hear the passing away
of school friends who are our contemporaries.

Wong (Cheung) Mei
Lin wrote (02 February 2006, 0107 hours)

Thank you, Doreen.

Yes, we should treasure every moment as a
gift from God, and live each day fully, according to His will.
May Gwek Neo and Arlene Soon rest in His peace.

Doreen, remember me?

Mei Lin (the fat one!)

Doreen Lim (Ee)
wrote (01 February 2006, 1643 hours):

Thanks for alerting us, TL, and for filling
us in on the details, Geok Eng (hope you remember who I am as
it's been so long since we met!). So nice to know that we can
all be in touch electronically despite the passing of years and
the fact that we hardly see each other yet, it seems "but the
twinkling of an eye". Ah, those indeed were the days, my
friends!

It is good to remember Gwek Neo, who was so
gentle and sweet and made an impact on most of us in her own
quiet way - and to know that she did pursue her dreams and had
her daughter with her in the final farewell. I am not in the MGS
circuit but am told there was also another casualty, Arlene
Soon, from the Arts Class, many years ago. Let us treasure
memories of our classmates who have gone on ahead and treasure
too the present day contacts and gatherings that you guys are so
good at organising.

May the good Lord continue to Bless and Keep
each of you!

Goh Geok Eng
wrote (30 January 2006, 1943 hours):

Hi, Sau Imm is married and lives in
Australia, Sydney I think. We met up when she returned for a
visit about a year ago. It was she who informed me about Gwek.
Yes, Gwek had this quiet enigmatic Mona Lisa smile. Even we
girls knew she was something special and that she would follow
her heart while we others walk the well-trodden path. We were
all MGS girls and classmates at that so we do go back a long
long time!

Mike Chan
wrote (30 January 2006, 1844 hours):

Irene Soh Gwek Neo was the No. 1 beauty of my
biology class. She had many ardent admirers including 3 serious
ones who are now doctors ... relax, there are more than 10
doctors from my class. A very nice friendly Peranakan girl with
never a harsh word for anyone. I met her by chance in Paris in
1994 and had coffee with her right in front of the Champs
Elysees. But it was for just 10 minutes as my tour leader called
me to board the coach. She married a French guy and became a
French citizen. She has a cousin also in my pre-u class, Chia
Sau Imm. Anyone know where she is now? Poor Gwek, only 62 yrs
old, may her soul rest in peace.

Goh Geok Eng wrote (30 January 2006, 1230 hours):

Hello everyone,

I have been receiving all your e-mails since
my introduction to all you good people about 2 months ago!

Gwek passed away peacefully in Paris with her
daughter by her side. She had time to say her goodbyes. She had
been suffering from oesophageal cancer for some time and was
undergoing the latest in chemotherapy when she passed away.

Gwek went to Paris to fulfill a childhood
dream of being an artist. This was very brave of her at a time
when we girls were still very sheltered and ended becoming
teachers like me! She achieved what she set out to do and
exhibited here in Singapore a few years ago.

Teck Long, congratulations on doing a
wonderful job of keeping us updated and for setting up the
web-site. We thought the girls would do a good job of keeping in
touch with one another, but I have to take my hat off to you for
doing one better than us!

M. Jegathesan
wrote (30 January 2006, 1123 hours):

It is sad indeed. Reminds us of the
frailty of things. I remember her very well, having sat
next to her in class and in the practicals, she used to partner
Chia Sau Imm and Gilbert Chiang, and I was just behind.

Choo Teck Long
wrote (30 January 2006, 0939 hours):

I don't have the full details, but I believe
it was some illness.

Allan Ng Yoon Hooi
wrote (30 January 2006, 0919 hours):

That's
sad news, the death of anyone, especially those in our years,
and a reminder that we don't have that much time left to do the
things we want to do and undo the things we don't want to do.
What did she die from? Was it old age or something that caught
her unawares, eg traffic accident etc?

Choo Teck Long
wrote (30 January 2006, 0910 hours):

I have just heard the sad news that Soh Gwek
Neo has passed away in Paris about a fortnight ago.

As many of you will remember, Gwek Neo was
from the Pre-U Science A Class.